Finding out where can you stream Sesame Street used to be a headache. For a few years there, it felt like you needed a PhD in corporate mergers just to find Elmo. One minute it was on PBS, then suddenly it was behind a paywall on HBO Max, and then half the episodes vanished into the digital void. Honestly, it was a mess.
But things changed fast. If you're looking for the neighborhood today, in early 2026, the map looks completely different. The "streaming wars" basically spit the Muppets out onto two major platforms: Netflix and YouTube.
The New Big Three: Netflix, PBS, and YouTube
Forget everything you remember about the HBO era. That deal is done. As of late 2025, Sesame Workshop pivoted hard toward accessibility. Here is the current breakdown of where the show actually lives right now.
1. Netflix is the New "Premium" Home
If you want the shiny new stuff, you’re going to Netflix. Season 56 kicked off there in November 2025 with a pretty radical format change. Instead of the old "magazine style" with lots of little sketches, the episodes now focus on one longer, 11-minute story. It feels a bit more like a modern cartoon but with the same heart.
Netflix also snatched up about 90 hours of library episodes. So, if you’re already paying for a subscription to watch Stranger Things or Bridgerton, you've already got a huge chunk of Sesame Street ready to go.
2. PBS and PBS Kids (Still Free, Still Classic)
The 50-year relationship with PBS is still alive and kicking. This is the best part: new episodes now premiere on PBS and PBS Kids on the exact same day they hit Netflix. No more waiting nine months for the "paywall" to expire.
You can stream these through:
- The PBS Kids Video app (available on Roku, Fire Stick, etc.)
- The PBS Kids website
- Live local PBS broadcasts
3. The YouTube Mega-Archive
This is the biggest news of 2026. Just this month (January 15, to be exact), YouTube became the "largest digital library" of Sesame Street. We’re talking over 100 full episodes uploaded for free.
They didn't just dump random clips, either. They uploaded the heavy hitters. You can watch the very first episode from 1969. You can watch the episode where Mr. Rogers visits or the heartbreaking one where the adults explain Mr. Hooper’s death to Big Bird. It's a goldmine for nostalgia, and it's all on the official Sesame Street and Sesame Street Classics channels.
What Happened to Max (HBO)?
You might still see Sesame Street on Max, but it’s a ghost of its former self. Warner Bros. Discovery decided not to renew their big contract. While a portion of the library will technically stay on Max until 2027, they aren't getting anything new. If you're subscribing to Max specifically for Elmo, you might want to reconsider.
The strategy shifted because families are increasingly on YouTube and Netflix. According to recent data, over half of the watch time for Sesame Street's official channel happens on "Connected TVs"—meaning kids aren't just watching on phones; they're watching YouTube on the big TV in the living room.
Why the Format Changed in 2026
If you tune into the new season on Netflix, you’re going to notice it looks different. It’s "reimagined."
The producers realized that today’s kids have different attention spans and viewing habits. The new 11-minute "A-story" is designed to be more character-driven. Don't worry, though—the classics like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck are still tucked in there. There’s also a new animated segment called Tales from 123 that’s exclusive to this new era.
Quick Cheat Sheet: Which App Should You Open?
It depends on what you want.
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- Want the newest episodes for free? Use the PBS Kids app.
- Already have a Netflix sub? Watch it there for the "all-in-one" convenience.
- Want to show your kids the episodes you watched in the 80s or 90s? Go to YouTube.
The YouTube deal is particularly great because it includes themed playlists. If your toddler is obsessed with the alphabet, there’s a 2-hour "ABC" compilation. If they love STEM, there’s a playlist for that too.
Accessing the Archives
One thing to keep in mind is that "every" episode ever made—all 5,000+ of them—isn't available in one single place. It’s a licensing nightmare.
However, between the 90 hours on Netflix and the massive "hundreds of episodes" collection on YouTube, 2026 is officially the easiest it has ever been to stream the show without a cable package.
Actionable Next Steps for Parents
- Check your Netflix profile: Make sure you have a "Kids" profile set up so the Sesame Street algorithm starts suggesting the new Season 56 episodes.
- Download PBS Kids: If you're on a budget, this is the highest quality free app available. No ads, just education.
- Subscribe to the YouTube Classics channel: This is where the 1960s-1990s episodes live. It’s perfect for a rainy afternoon when you want a hit of nostalgia.
- Audit your Max subscription: If you only kept Max for the Muppets, you can likely cancel it and move to a cheaper (or free) alternative mentioned above.
Streaming Sesame Street is finally simple again. No more chasing rights or mourning deleted episodes—just open YouTube or PBS and you're back on the street.